US1492922A

US1492922A - Method and apparatus for unloading high-explosive shells

Info

Publication number: US1492922A
Application number: US628321A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas F Knight
Original assignee: COLUMBIA SALVAGE CORP
Current assignee: COLUMBIA SALVAGE Corp
Priority date: 1923-03-28
Filing date: 1923-03-28
Publication date: 1924-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1941-05-06

Description

.May 6 1924.

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS Filed March 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1924. 1,492,922

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS Filed March 28. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/11 1111 lfi IN VEN TOR 05 lIIIIIlIIIIII/I/l/I/I/ A TTORNE Y;

May 6 .1924. 1,492,922

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS Filed March 28, 1 92s 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

ZZ F59- 6: v "a B 710 1] 12 in 6 7 ii 5 ii I 9 INVENTOR Thomas/Twit MQLM ATTORNE Y5 Patented May 6, 1924.

THOMAS E. KNIGHT, 0F LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CODUMBIA, SALVAGE FFHC CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADDTG HIG-H-EXPLOSIVE SHEIIILS.

Application filed March 28, 1928. Serial No. 628,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THoMAs F. KNIGHT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Lyndhurst. in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Unloading High-Explosive Shells (Case No. 2), of which the following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and useful method and apparatus for unloading high explosive shells and separating and recovering the materials forming the high explosive charge. It is necessary that the entire high-explosive charge be removed from theshells in order that the empty shells may be safely melted or reduced in a blast furnace or otherwise. These shells are of high quality steel and are valuable provided the explosive charge is entirely removed. hen the high explo sive charge is a mixture of several dilferent kinds of materials it is desirable to separate those materials after the charge has been removed from the shell, in order to render such materials separately available for commercial purposes.

A high-explosive shell for artillery use consists, ordinarily,'of a hollow steel shell filled with a charge of high explosive. The

I shell is usually pointed at one end, and said pointed end is known as the nose. In the nose is formed a longitudinally extending threaded aperture in. which is screwed a flanged adapter ring, said ring carrying a booster casing which extends into the shell and contains the so-called booster charge. The fuse, or fuse stock, is screwed into the adapter ring and this also carries asmall charge of explosive within the booster casing. A great many of these high explosive shells Amatol is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluol (TNT) in proper proportions. It is fiuid or semi-fluid at certain temperatures and may be readily poured into the shell. It cools and solidifies within the shell and becomes a substantiallysolid mam of material which completely fills the entire shell except fora small space at the nose, which is designed to receive the a and ammonium nitrate.

are charged with amatol..

booster casing. Other similar high explosives are used, such as pure TNT. The mam purpose of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for safely, completely and quickly removing the amatol from the shells and separating it int TNT The process is also adapted for use in removing TNT and other similar high explosive charges from shells.

In-the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for carrying out the'invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical sectional View of the apparatus taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view of ahigh explosive shell showing the booster and the adapter in position therein;

Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of a shell with the booster and adapter removed;

Fig. 5 a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the tank for supplying hot wa ter to the apparatus;

Fig. 6 a transverse vertical sectional view showing the chargedissolving apparatus connected to two shells, a portion ofthe apparatus being shown in side elevation; and

Fig. 7 a detail sectional view showing the beginning of the charge-dissolving operation.

In carrying out this invention the adapter and the booster are first removed from the nose of the shell. The shell is then in the condition illustrated in Fig. 4 and access may be had to its interior through the threaded hole in its nose. The adapter ring and the booster casing may be removed in any suitable manner, but perferably 'by a suitable apparatus arranged in a tank 1. From this booster-removing apparatus the shells are delivered to the apparatus for removing the explosive charge. This apparatus consists of a platform or support 2 on which the shells are placed. The shells are preferably set up on their bases with their open ends uppermost. The platform is provided with two longitudinally extending troughs 3 which incline downwardly toward-the front end of the platform and deliver into a cross-trough 4. The trough 4: isprovided with a spout 5- which delivers up through the discharge nozzle and entercoils 24.

ing the lateral branch 8 will be discharged into the trough 3. Into the top of the discharge nozzle 7 is screwed the lower end of a vertically extending tubular guide casing 10. Sliding freely through the guide casing and the discharge nozzle are two long, slender, vertically arranged

nozzles

11 and 12, the lower ends of said nozzles being provided with apertures through which jets of fluid under pressure pass both laterally and downwardly. These nozzles are adapted to be passed through the guide casing and the discharge nozzle, their lower ends engaging the solid portion of the charge within the shell, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7,. The nozzle 12 delivers a jet of hot water into the shell and the nozzle'11' delivers a jet of heated compressed air into the shell; and the nozzles are connected together so as to maintain their perforated ends close together throughout the entire operation of unloading the shell.

A hot-water'pipe 13 and a compressed-air pipe 14 are arranged longitudinally over each trough 3, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. The hot-water pipe is provided with valved connections 15.-to each of which is connected a flexible hose 16, the lower end of said flexible hose being connected to the upper end of one of the hot-water nozzles T2.

The compressed-air ipe is provided with valved connections l to each of which is connected a flexible hose.18, the lower end of which is connected to one of the air nozzles 11. The air pipes 14 are connected to an air compressor 19. The hot-water pipes 13 are closed at their rear ends and their forward ends open into a water-heating tank 20 so that hot water will flow from the said tank through the pipes 13 and thence to the water nozzles 12. Centrally arranged in each of the hot water pipes 13 is a steam pipe 21 whose rear end is connected to a steam generator 22 by means of a pipe connection 23. The forward ends of the steam pipes 21 enter the water-heating tank 20 and connect with 'coils 24 arranged near the bottom thereof. It is manifest, therefore, that steam will pass from the generator through the pipes 21' and then through the By this means the water will be highly heated before it passes to. the water nozzles. It is clear from the drawings that the hot-water pipes and the hot-air pipes are provided with valved connections for each shell arranged along the sides of the troughs 3. A. great many shells may be simultaneously treated by an apparatus arranged and constructed in this manner. The air from the compressor 19 is heated by means of a steam drum 25 which surrounds the air pipe leading from the compressor 19 to the pipes 14. It will, of course, be understood that the compressed air may be heated in any suitable manner before it is delivered to the air nozzles 11. The purpose of heating the compressed air is to prevent any cooling effect within the shells.

After the shells have been placed in upright positions along the sides of the troughs 3 and the discharge nozzles 7 have been screwed into the openings in the points of the shells, the air and water nozzles are dropped down through the guide casings '10. The lower ends of these nozzles rest on the solid charge within the shell. The valves in the

pipes

15 and 17 are then opened. Hot water will flow through the apertures in the end of each water nozzle 12 and com ressed air willfiovg through each air nozz e 11. The air, preferably, will be heated to a high temperature and the water is heated to a point just below boiling point; approximately 190 F. The water moistens and heats the solid charge within the shell. The compressed air agitates the water and causes it to swirl around within the shell and in contact with the solid charge. The combined action of the hot water and the compressed air results in softening and liquefying the charge. The flow of water and I air into the shell will cause a discharge through the branch or over-flow pipe 8 and thence through the hose 9 into the trough 3. As the material dissolves and is washed out of the shell the air and water nozzles will automatically, by gravity, move downward- 1y into the shell. These nozzles are long and s ender and as they are directed downwardly at the center of the charge they will quickly cut their way down through the mass to the bottom of the shell (see Figs. 6 and 7). Thiscutting action is due to the downwardly and the laterally directed jets from the points of said nozzles. The cutting action of the nozzles will produce a passage through the charge at the center thereof and the water and air being delivered at the bottom of this passage will flow upwardly through it to the discharge nozzle. This upward flow of the hot water and air will dissolve and carry out of the shell the exlosive charge and said material will be deivered in li uid form into the troughs 3. The flow of ot water and compressed air is continued until the shell is clear of solid matter. This may be readily determined by noting the heating of the exterior of the shell. -It has been found in practice that when the exterior of the shell is hot midway the ends thereof the charge has been entirely dissolved. When the-shells are clear of the solid charge the air and water nozzles are removed and the dischar e nozzles 7 are disconnected from the shel s. After the nozzles 7 are disconnected the shells are emptied into one of the troughs 3.

It is important to deliver the compressed air within the shell with the hot water. The jets of air keep the solution agitated in the shell and thereby assist materially in dissolving the charge. The fiow of compressed air also assists in forcing the liquid solution out of the shell and thereby keeps up a constant circulation and prevents the heavier parts of the solution settling to the bottom of the shell.

The material discharged from the trough 4 is very hot and consists of water, ammonium nitrate solution and TNT in solution. From this trough the mixture is discharged through the spout 5 into the separating 'and recovery tanks by means of which the TNT is separated from the ammonium nitrate solutlon.

The means for separating the liquid TNT from the ammonium nitrate solution comprises a settling tank 6 which receives the solution from the spout 5. This, tank is provided with vertical bafile plates 26 over and under which the material will flow from the inlet to the outlet spout 27. A heating coil 28 is arranged near'the bottom of this tank and said coil receives steam from the generator 22. The liquid TNT is of greater specific gravity than the ammonium nitrate solution and water and will drop to the bottom of the tank 6 where it is maintained in liquid form by the heat from the steam coil 28. The tank 6 is provided with discharge pipes 29 which enter the tank at,

the bottom thereof and through which the liquid TNT may be discharged into boxes ,30. These boxes are preferably arranged on a suitable conveyor 31 so that when filled they may be readily removed from under the discharge pipes.

The over-flow spout 27 is arranged at the top of the settling tank 6 and the ammonium nitrate will over-flow through said spout 27 into a tank 32. Because of the quantity of hot water used in dissolving the explosive charges from the shells the ammonium nitrate solution passing to tank 32 in the beginning of the operation of the apparatus will be weak, or not sufliciently strong for ordinary commercial purposes. -This weak solution is withdrawn from the tank 32 by means of the pump 33 and is forced back through

pipes

34 and 35 into the heating tank 20. From the tank 20 it will pass again through the shells. When the ammonium nitrate solution in tank 32 is of sufiicient strength valve 36 in pipe 35 is closed and valve 37 in pipe 38 is opened to permit the pump to deliver the ammonium nitrate solution into the large storage tank 39. From this tank it may be removed by pump 40 or in any other suitable manner. It is intended that the ammonium nitrate solution delivered into the storage tank 39 shall be of suflicient strength for commercial purpores, or, if desired, it may be again treated by any of the well-known methods for precipitating or throwing down the ammonium nitrate crystals. It will, of course, be understood that the water tank 20 may be supplied with water in any suitable manner. The TNT finally discharged into the boxes ;30 will become substantially solidwhen cooled and will be suitable for commercial purposes without further treatment. The shells are completely emptied and cleaned of the explosive charge so that they may be safely transported, stored or melted down.

What I claim is:

1. The method of removing a high explosive charge from a container consisting in directing hot water and air under pressure into said container and permitting the hot water and air to dissolve or liquefy the material and to force the liquid from the container. t

2. The method of removing a high explosive charge from a container consisting in subjecting the charge to heat and moisture and to a jet of fluid under pressure, the pressure fluid being in addition to the means for supplying heat and moisture.

3. The method of removing a hi h explosive charge from a container consisting in directing hot water into the shell to heat and moisten the charge, and simultaneously directinginto the shell a fluid under pressure to agitate the material within the shell, the supply of water and the fluid under pressure being maintained and serving to force the liquid from the container.

4. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching a discharge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, directing a jet of hot 7 water downwardly into the said shell through said discharge nozzle to heat, moisten and dissolve the charge, and simultaneously directing a jet of fluid under pressure through said discharge nozzle into the shell to agitate and swirl around the liquid within the shell, the supply of hot water and fluid under pressure being maintained to cause the liquid material within the shell to flow out throu h the discharge nozzle.

5. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching a discharge nozzle to the open nose at nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the discharge nozzle and into contact with the mass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously through said hot-water nozzle into the shell, and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow through the compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot water Wlll heat, moisten and dis- I solve the explosive charge and the compressed air will-cause the liquid within the shellto-swirl around and thereby assist in dissolving the charge, the supply of hot water and compressed air being continued whereby the liquid within the shell will be forced out through the discharge nozzle.

6. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attachin a discharge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, inserting a hot-water nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the discharge nozzle and into contact with the mass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously through the hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot water will be agitated and swirled around within the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten and dissolve the explosive charge and force it in liquid form out through the discharge nozzle, and causing the water and air nozzles to move downwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved and forced out of the shell.

7. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open nose at the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with the mass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously through the hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot water will be agitated and swirled around within the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten and dissolve theexplosive charge and force it in liquid form out through the discharge nozzle, and causing the' water and air nozzles to move downwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved and forced out of the shell.

a 8. The method .of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base, attaching a discharge nozzle to the open nose at the point of the shell, inserting a long slender hot-water nozzle and a long slender compressed-air nozzle through the discharge nozzle and into contact with the charge within the shell, causing hot ,water to flow passage in the charge,

through the hot-water nozzle and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow through the compressed-air nozzle, whereby the hot water and compressed air will first cut a causing the said two nozzles to move down in said passage as it is cut, and continuing the flow of hot water and compressed air until the entire charge is dissolved or liquefied, the water and air forcing the liquid material out through the discharge nozzle.

9. The method of removing a solidified charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open -nose. at the point of the shell uppermost,

inserting a long slender hot-water nozzle and along slender compressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with the charge within the shell, causing hot water to flow through the hot-water nozzle and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow through the compressed-air nozzle, whereby the hot water and the compressed air will first cut a passage in the charge, causing the said two nozzles to move down into said passage as it is cut, and continuing the flow of hot water and compressed air until the entire charge is dissolved or lique-.

fied, the water and air forcing the liquid material out through the open nose.

10. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open nose at the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with the mass within the -'shell, causing hot water to flow continuously through the'hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causing heated compressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzle into the shell where by the hot water will be agitated and swirled around within the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten and dissolve the explosive charge and force it in liquid form out through the discharge nozzle, and cansing the water and air nozzles to move downwardly in the shell as the mass is dissolved and forced out of the shell.

11. The method of removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell consisting in placing the shell upright on its base with the open nose at the point of the shell uppermost, inserting a hot-water nozzle and a compressed-air nozzle through the open nose and into contact with the mass within the shell, causing hot water to flow continuously through the hot-water nozzle into the shell and simultaneously causing compressed air to flow continuously through the compressed-air nozzle into the shell whereby the hot water will be agitated and swirled around within the shell by the compressed air and will heat, moisten and dissolve the a solidified explosive charge made up of TNT and ammonium nitrate, consisting in liquefying said charge by directing into said shell a jet of hot water and a jet of compressed air, the said jets reducing the charge to ammonium nitrate solution with TNT in liquid form in said solution, then placing the liquefied TNT and ammonium nitrate solution in a settling tank or container and maintaining the solution in said tank at a 7 high temperature and drawing of? the- TNT from the bottom of said settling tank, the

ammonium nitrate solutionflowing from the top of said settling tank and into a second tank, and then removing the ammonium nitrate solution from the second tank and passing it back through the shell to increase the strength of the ammonium nitrate solution.

14. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell, comprising a dischar e nozzle adapted to be connected to the s ell at the open end thereof, a water nozzle extending through said discharge nozzle and ada ted to extend into the shell, a com resse -air nozzle extending through the disc arge nozzle and adapted to extend into the shell, means for supplying hot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplying cempressed air to the air nozzle.

15. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solldified explosive charge from a shell, comprising a dischar e noz'zleadapted to be connected to the end thereof, a hot-water nozzle extending through the discharge nozzle and ada ted to extend into the shell, a compress -air nozzle extending through the said discharge nozzle and adapted to extend into the s both 'of said nozzles being adapted to move to the bottom of the shell, means for supplying hot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplying compressed air to the air nozzle.

16. An. apparatus for lique inghmd removing a solidified explosive c arge from a I shell, comprising a discharge nozzle adapted to be secured in an opening in the nose of the shell and having a. lateral discharge branchabove the shell,a tubular guide casi'ng cbnnected-to said discharge nozzle, a

ell at the 0 en long slender hot-water nozzle adapted to slide freely through the guide casing and extending through the discharge nozzle to adapt it to enter" the shell, a long slender compressed-air nozzle adapted to slide freely through the guide casing and extending through the discharge nozzle to adapt it to enter the shell, said two nozzles being provided with apertures at their free ends, means for supplying hot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplying compressed air,to the air nozzle.

17. An apparatus for liquefying and re-' moving a solidified explosive charge from a shell, comprising a vertical discharge nozzle adapted to be secured in an opening in the nose of the shell and having a lateral discharge branch, a vertical tubular guide casing connected to the upper end of said.

discharge nozzle, a long slender vertically arranged hot-water nozzle adapted to slide freely downwardly through the guide casing and the discharge nozzle, 2. long slender vertically arran ed compressed-air nozzle adapted to slide eel downwardly through the guide casing an the discharge nozzle whereby said two nozzles will automatically move. downwardly into the shell as the charge therein is liquefied, said nozzles bein provided with apertures at their lower en s, means for supplying hot water to the water nozzle, and means for supplying compressed air to the air nozzle.

18. An apparatus for liquefying and removin a solidified explosive charge from a she 1, comprising a discharge nozzle adapted to be connected'to the shell at the open end thereof, a fluid pressure nozzle extending through said dischar nozzle and adapted to slide therethroug and extend into the shell and to be moved therein to the bottom of the shell, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid guide casing connected to said discharge nozzle, a lon slender fluid pressure nozzle adapted to side freely through the guide casing and extendingv through the discharge nozzle to adapt it to enter the shell, said fluid pressure nozzle being ,,provided with apertures at its freeendf and means for supplyin fluid under pressure to the outer end of t e fluid pressure nozzle.

20. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified explosive charge from a shell, comprising a vertical discharge nozzle adapted to be secured inan openin in the nose of the shell and having a latera discharge branch, a vertical tubular guide ill casing connected to the upper end of said discharge nozzle, a long slender vertically arran ed fluid pressure nozzle adapted to slide reely downwardly through the guide 5 casing and the discharge nozzle to adapt it to move into the shell as the charge therein is liquefied said fluid pressure nozzle being provided with apertures at its lower end, and means for suppl ing fluid under pressure to the outer en of the fluid pressure 10 nozzle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix mv signature.

' THOMAS F. KNIGHT.